JOLIET, Ill. — With the opening of a new Community Health Center, Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center and Aunt Martha’s Youth Center, Inc. have partnered to improve access to care for the medically underserved on the west side of the Greater Joliet community.

Today, Presence Saint Joseph and Aunt Martha’s celebrated the grand opening of Aunt Martha’s Health Center West Joliet, a new 4,500 square foot Community Health Center operated by Aunt Martha’s within the Medical Center in space adjacent to its Emergency Department.

The new Health Center provides a full spectrum of preventive and primary health care services, including essential ancillary services such as lab testing. A significant focus of the Health Center is obstetrical care for a substantially underserved and high risk population.

“This partnership speaks to the very heart of our mission as Presence Health to provide compassionate, holistic care with a spirit of healing and hope to so many in need in our Joliet community,” said Beth Hughes, President and CEO of Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center.

The collaboration is designed to ease the use of Saint Joseph’s Emergency Department (ED) for basic health needs. Patients arriving at the ED who do not have a primary care provider and lack the financial means to pay for their care can be treated, discharged and referred down the hall to Aunt Martha’s Health Center, where they will be connected to a true medical home.

Raul Garza, CEO of Aunt Martha’s said, “We are delighted to be working with the great team at Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center. Together we will ensure the delivery of the high quality care in the most appropriate setting, supporting good stewardship of our community’s precious health care resources.”

Aunt Martha’s Health Center West Joliet is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Patients can call 1-877-692-8686 (MYAUNTM) to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcomed. Aunt Martha’s Healthcare Network accepts any form of insurance including Medicaid, Medicare, and All Kids, as well as providing a reduced-cost sliding fee scale for patients without insurance. Services are never denied because of a patient’s inability to pay.